Aggies ship Tide packing with game-winning discipline aim

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — – Seth Small made a 28-yard discipline aim as time expired and Texas A&M shocked top-ranked Alabama 41-38 on Saturday evening to finish the Crimson Tide’s profitable streak at 19 video games.

Defending nationwide champion Alabama (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Convention) had scored 21 straight factors – capped by a TD reception and 2-point conversion seize by Jameson Williams – to take a 38-31 lead with 5 minutes to go.

Texas A&M (4-2, 1-2) tied it at 38 when Zach Calzada linked with Ainias Smith for a 25-yard landing strike with three minutes left. Calzada was hit as he threw the strike and needed to be helped off the sphere however returned for the subsequent drive after a go to to the medical tent.

Calzada returned after the Aggies pressured a punt to orchestrate the profitable drive, highlighted by a 17-yard move to Isaiah Spiller earlier than Small completed it off to ship followers streaming onto the sphere to have a good time.

Calzada threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, as the previous backup performed like a star. Devon Achane returned a kickoff 96 yards for a TD within the third quarter and A&M’s protection received after Bryce Young all evening.

Smith completed with 85 yards receiving and two scores and Jalen Wydermyer had 73 yards receiving and a TD to assist the Aggies to what definitely is their greatest win since Fisher took over in 2018.

Alabama hadn’t misplaced since falling 48-45 to Auburn on Nov. 30, 2019.

It is the primary time Alabama coach Nick Saban has misplaced to considered one of his assistants after getting into the sport an ideal 24-0 in these video games. He’d overwhelmed Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher 4 instances, essentially the most of any of his former staffers earlier than the previous Florida State coach lastly ended the streak on his 56th birthday.

Texas A&M additionally ended Alabama’s streak of 100 wins over unranked groups, courting to a win over Colorado within the 2007 Independence Bowl to cap Saban’s first season.

The Aggies entered the season ranked sixth and gunning for Alabama after the Crimson Tide handed them their solely loss final season. However by final week it appeared as if this might be a misplaced season for the Aggies after consecutive defeats by Arkansas and Mississippi State despatched them tumbling out of the High 25.

However as a substitute of falling into a much bigger gap this week, the Aggies pulled off the upset to snap an eight-game skid towards Alabama. It is their first win within the sequence since Johnny Manziel’s spectacular efficiency led them to a 29-24 win in 2012 on the highway when the Crimson Tide was additionally ranked first.

Johnny Soccer, who received the Heisman Trophy that season, was among the many 106,815 followers at Kyle Subject on Saturday evening to look at the Aggies beat the Crimson Tide at dwelling for the primary time ever. A&M’s first win within the sequence got here in a 20-16 win within the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1968.

Manziel was amongst these celebrating on the sphere after the sport within the wild postgame occasion.

The 17 1/2-point underdogs gained management of this one early, racing out to a 24-10 halftime lead behind two takeaways and a splendid begin by Calzada. A&M’s 24 factors within the first half have been essentially the most Alabama had allowed to an unranked opponent earlier than halftime throughout Saban’s tenure.

Younger threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns and Williams had 146 yards receiving. Brian Robinson Jr. added 147 yards speeding.

Alabama minimize the result in seven when DeMarcco Hellams blocked a punt by Nik Constantinou and King

Mwikuta pounced on it ultimately zone for a landing within the third quarter.

However the Aggies took the blow and responded instantly with considered one of their very own. Achane zig-zagged by way of two waves of defenders after which displayed the elite pace that lets him double as a sprinter on the observe workforce to easily outrun everybody to make it 31-17 with eight minutes left within the third.

Younger then capped a 75-yard drive with a 29-yard landing move Williams to chop the result in 31-24. Williams put his finger to his lips to shush the group after the rating.

THE TAKEAWAY

Alabama has some issues to wash as much as get again on observe and attempt to get an opportunity to defend its title. The Aggies should be kicking themselves that they did not play higher within the final two weeks so this win may have meant much more.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Alabama is definitely to fall a number of spots within the ballot after the loss and getting a win over the defending champs must be sufficient to get the Aggies again within the High 25.

UP NEXT

Alabama: At Mississippi State on Saturday evening.

Texas A&M: At Missouri on Saturday.

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